Stepables®

STEPABLES® are tough, earth-friendly, easy-to-maintain perennials that take foot traffic. These little green heroes can liberate your landscape from that not-so-green mower, cut down on the use of chemicals and create lovely beds of color! Plus, they're quick to foster friendly habitats for all kinds of great beneficial critters. Smaller carbon footprint, anyone?

Small, narrow purplish-green colored leaves with spikes of blue flowers. This ajuga is one of the best performers. Evergreen. A great groundcover, bugleweed is happy in conditions ranging from drought to bogs. Can be grown under black walnut trees. Attractive to butterflies. Deer resistant. Takes moderate foot traffic. Space on 12" centers.

Gray-green leaves with silvery undersides form a low creeping mat that sets off 4"-6" stems of fuzzy pink flowers in late spring. Deer resistant! Alaska Native. Host plant for Virginia Lady Butterfly. Great for wall nooks, between pavers or as a filler for that hot, sunny spot where nothing else will grow. Light foot traffic. Space on 12" centers.

Luscious little, hot-pink, pom-pom blooms over burgundy to smoky-green, shiny grass-like foliage. Foliage is more green in summer and returns to burgundy in cooler weather. Great for rock gardens and the front of the border. Light foot traffic. Space on 6" centers.

Very tiny plants with pretty litle scalloped leaves are as short or shorter than mosses. Trailing runners make a solid mat, a nice filler in shady areas. Has lots of tiny, mauve pink flowers in May and sporadically thereafter. Mostly evergreen, except in extra cold weather. Tolerates light foot traffic. Space on 12" centers.

Lovely rosettes of pink, double blooms blanket the tops of tiny light green mounds of scallopped leaves in spring and rebloom through summer. Excellent as an accent or as and edging. Can take light foot traffic. Space on 6" centers.

Evergreen, scalloped heart-shaped leaves with white marbling. Lavender flowers on trailing stems that can be invasive. Quick covering groundcover or trailing container plant. Remove green reversions quickly. Drought tolerance makes it excellent to use under trees where soil is dry so long as it can be contained. Will not attach to trees. Light foot traffic. Space on 12" centers.

Green, white and yellow create a wonderful array of color for the ground. Leaves root as they spread to create dense mats Small white/green flowers come and go quickly. A vigorous spreader, so careful placement is important. Can also be used as a container plant with trailing stems. Can take moderate foot traffic. Space on 12" centers.

This super easy to grow mat-former has tiny rounded leaves and very small, blue star-shaped flowers that may bloom spring to frost. Semi-evergreen. Spreads by underground rhizomes and by surface rooting. May be Invasive. Great groundcover, excellent between stepping stones, under roses, around ponds and decks. Tolerates heavy foot traffic. Space on 12" centers.

Tiny serrated leaves send out runners to form a rugged carpet of soft green. Plants spread indefinitely by rhizomes/runners. Excellent between pavers. This plant is so dense that it can withstand car traffic 1-2 times a day. Heavy foot traffic. Space on 8" centers.

Tiny green, mouse ear leaves create a cute mat of foliage, while the small green stems root at each node, enabling it to take hold almost everywhere. Yellow flowers on top in summer. Great between stepping stones. Heavy foot traffic. Space on 6"-8"centers.

Evergreen, creeping plant with tiny leaves that send out the aroma of mint when brushed or stepped on. Light lavender flowers in summer. this is a strong spreader and makes a tight groundcover. Moderate foot traffic. Space on 12" centers.

Cup-shape white blooms over mats of rapidly spreading green foliage that roots at nodes as well as underground runners. Originating from mountain areas of S. America where it grows with its roots in constantly moist soil. This makes a great groundcover around stepping stones, between rocks, or in alpine gardens. Moderate foot traffic. Space on 12" centers.

Compact habit and glossy, dark green leaves make this perennial a natural as a ground cover or edging. Spikes of light lavender bell-shaped flowers are followed by small blue-black berries. Rhizomatous habit. Excellent between stepping stones. Deer resistant. A slow grower it tolerates moderate foot traffic. Space on 4" centers.

Dainty green leaves form a low carpet of green that is bejeweled with tiny blue stars from spring through summer. Wonderful around pavers, hanging over a wall or filling in around rocks and shrubs in the alpine garden. May be invasive. Moderate foot traffic. space on 8" centers.

Small green leaf creeper which spreads on top of the soil and underground to form a tight carpet. Deep violet blue flowers bloom spring through fall. Perfect for patios, walkways and between other perennial plants. May be invasive! Heavy foot traffic. Space on 8" centers.

Dense, tufts of tiny, slender stems grow together to form a lush carpet of bright green. Small, star-shaped, white flowers cover it almost completely in spring. Usually evergreen, but may go down in very harsh conditions. Self sows. Ideal as a groundcover, terrific between rocks and stones. Can handle heavy foot traffic. Space on 10"-12" centers.

Dense tufts of tiny, slender stems grow together to form a lush carpet of golden green. Small, star-shaped white flowers cover the plant in the spring. Usually evergreen, but may go dormant in very harsh conditions. Ideal between pavers, terrific between rocks and stones. Tolerates heavy foot traffic. Space on 12" centers.

Tight clusters of gray-blue, succulent leaves take on deep blue to purple shades in winter. Plants are completely covered with small pink flowers in late summer. Light foot traffic. Space on 6" centers.

Creeping, wooly gray foliage and pink flowers create a versatile evergreen groundcover that will cover dry slopes, fill in between rocks or grow in containers. Not humidity tolerant. Works well between stepping stones or around roses. Evergreen. Moderate to heavy foot traffic. Space on 8” centers.

This very low-growing thyme resembles wooly thyme, but with tiny, dark green foliage that is less hairy. Hot pink blooms fade to soft pink creating a delicate carpet to show off roses, line walkways or make a small lawn in difficult areas. Tolerates moderate foot traffic. Space on 8" centers.

Soft aromatic foliage is covered with light rose flowers in summer. Deep green foliage gives way to bronze as weather turns cold. Very versatile perennial that will cover dry slopes, creep around roses or work well as a small lawn substitute. Moderate foot traffic. Space on 8" centers.

This creeping thyme has bright cream/gold foliage with a touch of green in the middle. Soft pink to white flowers adorn it in late spring. Bright color makes this an absolute must for entryways and patios or for draping over a retaining wall. Evergreen. Moderate foot traffic. Space on 8” centers.

This unique thyme has a feathery look and very strong fragrance when crushed. Light green needle-like foliage creeps along to form a nice carpet covered with 1" soft pink flower spikes in June and July. Evergreen. Moderate foot traffic. Space on 8" centers.

This creeping thyme keeps a tight grip on the ground to make an nice small lawn substitute or groundcover. Deep green foliage has a nice fresh scent of lemon when stepped on. Covered with carmine pink flowers in spring. Evergreen. Attractive to butterflies. Deer resistant. Moderate foot traffic. Space on 6” centers.

Four leaf clover foliage with green leaflets that have deep purple maroon centers. Small white clover-like flowers in summer. A stem-rooting groundcover, it can be very invasive. May be evergreen in southern parts of range. Moderate foot traffic. Space on 8" centers.

Brilliant gold leaves make an attractive spreading groundcover. Pearl blue flowers give a cool feel to their surroundings. Works well between pavers or in a woodland setting. Excellent understory planting for rhododendrons and azaleas. Evergreen. Moderate foot traffic. Space on 8" centers.